Automatic change-speed gearing.



S. A. ELLETT.

AUTOMATIC CHANGE SPEED (BEARING.

' APPLlCATlON FILED APR-30,1919.

1,320,460. Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

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S. A. ELLETT.

AUTOMATIUCHANGE SPEED GEARlNG.

APPHCATION FILED APR.30.1919.

1 20,460, Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN ELLETT, F ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

. AUTOMATIC CHANGE-SPEED ammo.

Application filed April 30, min. Serial No. 293,779.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHENA. E LLE'1'1', a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Change-Speed Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to change speed gear ing, and more particularly, in some of its aspects, to gearing for interposition between two rotating parts, either of which may be the driver, and whereof the first, when operating as the driver, rotates the second at operating as an engine driven generator, thearmature of the dynamo may be sufficiently and properly rotated at engine speed.

The objects of my inventlon are to provide a construction of the character above indicated in which the electric starting motor and the generator-are combined in the sameelectric unit and to provide amechanism of very simple arrangement, involving a minimum number of parts, each simple, durable, and easily manufactured orfre;

paired and all related in such a manner for.

automatically and efficiently chan ing the gear ratio between electric unit an gine and allowing the gas engine to drive the electric unit instead of being driven by the same, thus the electric unit operates as a starting motor or a generator and the gear ratio through the electric unit to the gas engine is automatically taken care of by the herein disclosed invention.

Other and further objects of my-invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art fro the following description.

Specification of Letters Patent.

gas en- Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

My invention consists of structural characteristics and relative arran ements of elements which will be hereina ter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts, in the several figures of the drawings,

Figure 1 1s a longitudinal-vertical sec tional view with arts in elevation, through a structure embodying my invention in asso ciation with a dynamo-electric machine;

Fig. 2, represents detached and perspec tive views of several of theelements comprising the change speed gearing;

Fig. 3, is a vertical sectional View taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1;

Pg. 4:, is a sectional View taken on line .IVIV of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5, is a perspective of another element of the change speed gearing.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a shaft or one of the rotatable members, and in the case illustrated is supported in the well-known form of ball-bearing. 11, and fixed to the armature 12 of the usual electric motor or generator. 13 is the fixed casing which supports or carries the field magnets 14; of the electric motor-generator as is common in this class of apparatus and forms no part of the present invention. The shaft 10 is. provided with'a threaded portion 15 and an extension 16 having an enlarged en 17 secured to its end opposite to that of the armature 12. A nut .18 engages the thread ed portion 15 of the shaft 10 and is provided with teeth or projections 19 and 19 on its opposite faces. for purposes to be presently described. Rotatably supported on the section of the shaft, 10 connected with the armature 12 is an eccentric bushing 20 having on its outer end or .face teeth or projections 21, adapted to be engaged by the teeth 19 on nut 18. Surrounding said eccentric bushing 20 and capable of being supported thereon as a bearing is a larger spur gear 22 and a smaller spur gear 23 integrally formed or unitedv so that they will rotate about the axis 10 in unison or as one gear.

24 is a stationary internal gear made ingr l w th 5 9 132 W a hol o cy11.n 1.-

cal extension 25 which is fastened to'the body or casin 13 of the motor by means of screws 26. 2 is a rotating hollow sleeve having an internal gear 28 engaging thev smaller spur gear 23 and a reduced cylindrical extension 29 provided with cam surfaces and notches 30, as shown in Figs. 1

- and 2, and for purposes to be presently described. Said sleeve 27 is held in proper relation with respect to the gear 28 and permitted to rotate about the shaft 10 by 7 means of a combined dust excluding and oil retaining cap 31, secured to the stationary hollow extension 25 by means of screws 32 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Rotatably supported and surrounding the extension 16 of the shaft 10 is a member 33 having teeth or projections 34, see Figs. 1'

and 2, forenga'ging the correspondin teeth or projections 19 on nut 18, said mom or 33 being normally pressed toward the nut 18 and extension 29 and notches 30 of sleeve -'38 or other means to the rotatable member 33, and is so arranged and interposed be tween' the extension 29 and nut 18 as to have its inwardly springing sections 39 have I not only a frictional and clutching engagement with said nut 18 so as to grip and re volve it on the threaded portion 15 of shaft 10, but also forming a retarding member when the gas engine is at rest for purposes as will be presently understood.

40 is the rotary shaft which is fastened to the gears or other suitable means for convcying rotary motion to the gas engine shaft for the purpose of starting the gasolene motor and needs no further illustration.

Attached to the end of this shaft 40 by means of a pin 41 or other means, is a hollow cylindrical prolongation 42 (see Figs. 1 and 2), adapted to surround the extension 16, enlarged end 17 and coil spring 35 and is provided at its end with projections or nptches 43 which are adapted to be always in engagement with the similarly disposed notches and projections 36 on rotatable member 33.

The parts being constructed and arranged as herein described, the operation of the device is as follows:

, On energizing the electric motor the armature 12 is rotated which transmits its motion .to the shaft 10 and threaded portion or spiral 15 causing the non-rotatable clutch nut 18 to be pulled over and forcing the projections or teeth 19 on said nut 18 in engagement,

with the projections or teeth 21 of the eccentric bushing 20 and hence locking said bushing 20 to the shaft 10; thereby revolving thebushing 20 in unison with the shaft 10. Motion in an opposite direction is then imparted to the larger spur'.gear 22' which meshes with the stationary internal gear 24 and the corresponding rotation of the smaller spur gear 23 meshing with the internal gear 28 causes the sleeve 27 to rotate about the shaft 10. During the foregoing described operation the member 33 is continuously in engagement with the sleeve 27 by reason'of the fact that the coil spring 35 constantly forces the projections or notches 36 on member 33 in engagement with the notches or projections 30 on the exten sion 29, of said sleeve 27, and as previously described, the notches or projections 36 of member 33 are alwaysin engagement with the notches or projections 43 on cylindrical prolongation 42 keyed to shaft 40, and hence the rotation of the armature 12 and shaft 10 is transmitted to gas engine shaft through the 'various elements 12, 10, 18, 20, 22, 24 23, 28, 27, 33, 42 and 40 in the order recited, and the gears may be so proportioned and laid out for any reduction and whlle I .have shown the spur gear 22 with sixty-four teeth, spur gear 23' with fortytwo teeth, internal gear 24, with seventysix'teeth'and internal gear 28 with fifty-four teeth any other ratios may be used if so desired.

After the gas engine has been started by the rotation of the shaft 40, the rotatable member 33 is able to'spring out and disconnect the sleeve 27 by reason of their cooperating cam surfaces disengaging the notches and projections 30 and 36 on said sleeve 27 and member 33 as will be readily understood by reference to Fi 2, when the energizing current is shut off in the electric motor and the armature 12 and shaft 10 come to rest. Shaft 40 still rotatingand driven by the gas engine causes the pro lon'gation 42 and member 33 to-continue to revolve and the retarder or clutching sleeve 37 attached to member 33 and frictionally engaging the nut 18 rotates said nut 18 on the threaded portion 15 in such a manner as to force its teeth or projections 19 to engage the teeth or projections 34 on said member 33 and at the same time compress the spring 35 and draw the projections and notches 36 on the member 33 from any possible engagement or interference with the projections and notches 30 on sleeve 27. When the parts are in this last described position and relation, the electric motor with its armature is driven as an electric generator by the gas engine through, the elements 40, 42, 33, 18, and 10, inthe order given with ratio of one to one, and shaftlO and armature 12 makin one revolution to one of shaft 40, direct y connected'an'd' without intermediate gears. 1

From the foregoing disclosure of the construction and operation of my gearing it will be seen that all the objects and advantages recited in the statement of inventionhave been fully and efficiently carried out and of such form as will not'necessitate the use of highly Skilled mechanics to assemble or repair the same.

It is obvious that various otherforms and modifications may be made without dep'art ing from the essential features and principle of my invention and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific herein shown and preferred construction and described.

What I claim is 1. A change speed gearing comprising a rotatable shaft, a clutching nut carried by said shaft,mcans on said shaft for engaging and reciprocating said clutching nut, spur gears, means-engaged by said nut for rotating said spur gears, a fixed gear in mesh with one of said spur gears, arotatable sleeve constructed. and arranged to be rotated by another of said spur gears and having means forinterloeking with; a memberrotatable about and movable on said shaft, a member rotatable about and movable on saidshaft and having means for engaging and interl, with said sleeve, means said rotatable and movable member for engaging said clutching nut and disengaging said nut from the means for rotating said spur gears, a second rotatable shaft and and reciprocating said clutching nut on sald shaft, spur ears surrounding and rotatable about said s aft, means engaged by said nut for rotating said spur gears, a fixed internal gear surrounding said shaft and in mesh with one of said spur gears, .a sleeve having engaging notches and rotatable about said shaft and provided with an internal gear meshing with another .of said spur gears, a member rotatable about and movable on said shaft and having notches adapted to be engaged or disengaged by said notches on said sleeve, means on said rotatable and movable member for engaging said clutching nut and disengaging said nut from the means for rotating. said spur gears, a second rotatable shaft and, means for continuously connecting said second rotatable shaft diameters surroundin unison about said sha t, means engaged by to said member rotatable and movable on said first mentioned rotatable shaft.

3. A change speed gearing comprising a rotatable shaft, a clutching nut carried by saidshaft, means on said shaft for engaging and recigrocating said' clutching nut on said sha connected spur gears surrounding and rotatable in unison about said shaft, means engaged by said nut for rotating said spur rs, a fixed internal gear surround ingsaid. shaft and in mesh with oneof said spur gears, "a sleeve having engaging notches and rotatable about said shaft and provided with an internal gear meshing with another of said spur gears, a member rotatable about and movable on said shaft and having notches adapted to be engaged .or disengaged by sa d notches on said sleeve, means on said rotatable and movable member for engaging said clutching nut and disengagin said nut from the means for rotating said spurgears, a second rotatable shaft and means for continuously connecting said second rotatable shaft to sald member rotatable and movable on said first mentioned r0- tatable shaft.

4. A change speed gearing comprising a rotatable shaft, a clutchingnut carried by said shaft, means on said shaft for engaging and reciprocating said clutching nut on said shaft, two united spur gears of different and rotatable in said nut for rotating said spur gears, a fixed internal gear surrounding said shaft and in i I mesh With'thespur gear of larger diameter, a sleeve having engaging notches and r0- tatable about said shaft and provided with an internal gear meshing with the spur gear of smaller diameter, a member rotatable about and movable on said shaft and having notches adapted to be engaged or disengaged by said notches on said sleeve, means engaging said clutchingnut anddisengaging said nut, from the means for rotating on said rotatable and movable member for" v I said spur gears, a second rotatable shaft and means for contlnuously'connectmg said second rotatable shaft to said member rotatable and movablev on said first mentioned rotatable shaft. l i

' 5. A change speed gearing comprising arotatable shaft, a clutching nut carried by said shaft, a threaded portion on said shaft for engaging and reciprocating said clutching nut on said shaft, two united spur gears of different diameters surrounding and rotatable about said shaft, means engaged by said nut for rotating said spur gears, a fixed internal gear surrounding said shaft and in mesh with the spur gear of larger diameter,

a sleeve having engaging notches and rotatable about said shaft and provided with an internal gear meshing with the spur nut about the shaft, and means for disengaging said nut from the means for rotating said spur gears and locking said rotatable and movable member and nut to the shaft to rotate therewith, a coil spring normally forcing said movable member into engagement with said sleeve and nut, a second rotatable shaft, and means for continuously connecting said second rotatable shaft to said member rotatable and movable on said first mentioned rotatable shaft.

6. A change speed gearing comprising a rotatable shaft, a clutching nut carried by and reci rocable on said shaft, means on said shaft for engaging and reciprocating said clutching nut on said shaft, a bushing eccentrically supported and rotatable about shaft, spur gears carried by and surrounding said bushing, and shaft, means'on said bushing and nut for locking the same together and rotating said bushing and spur gears about the shaft, a fixed internal gear surrounding said shaft and in mesh with one of said spur gears, a sleeve having engaging notches and rotatable about said shaft and provided with an internal gear meshing with another of said spur gears, a member rotatable about and movable on said shaft and having notches adapted to be engaged or disengaged by said notches on said sleeve, means on said rotatable and movable member for engaging said clutching nut and disengaging said nut from the means for locking said nut and bushing to-' gether, a second rotatable shaft, and means for continuously connecting said second rotatable shaft to said member rotatable and movable on said first mentioned rotatable shaft.

7. A change speed gearing comprising a rotatable shaft, a clutching nut carried by gear of large diameter, a sleeve. having en-.

gaging notches and rotatable about said shaft and provided with an internal gear 'meshing with the spur gear of small diameter, a member rotatable about and movable on said shaft and having notches adapted to be engaged or disengaged by said notches on said sleeve, means on said rotatable and movable member for engagin said clutching nut and disengagin said nut from the means for locking said nut and bushing together, a second rotatable shaft, and means for continuously connecting said second rotatable shaft to said member rotatable and movable on said first mentioned rotatable shaft.

8. A change speed gearing comprising a' rotatable shaft, a clutching nut carried by and reciprocable on said shaft, means on said shaft for engaging and reciprocating said clutching nut on said shaft, a bushing cc 1 centrically supported and rotatable about shaft, connected spur gears of different di-- ameters carried by and surrounding said bushing and shaft, means on said bushing and nut for locking the same together and rotating said bushing and spur gears about the shaft, a fixed internal gear surrounding said shaft and in mesh with the spur gear of large diameter, a sleeve having engaging notches and rotatable about said shaft and provided with an internal gear meshing with the spur gear of small diameter, a member rotatable about and mowable on said shaft and having notches adapted to be engaged by or disingaged from said notches on said sleeve, means on said rotatable and movable member for frictionally engaging said clutching nut to prevent r0- tation of said nut about the shaft, and means disengaging said nut from the means for locking said nut and bushing together, a second rotatable shaft, and means for continuously and slidingly connecting said second rotatable shaft to said member rotatable and movable on said first mentioned rotatable shaft.

9. A change speed gearing comprising a rotatable shaft, a clutching nut carried by and reciprocable on said shaft, a threaded portion on said shaft for engaging and reciprocating said clutching nut on said shaft, a bushing eccentrically supported and rotatable about shaft, two connected spur gears of different diameters carried by and surrounding said bushing and shaft, means on said bushing and nut for locking the same together and rotating said bushing and spur gears about the shaft, a fixed infor continuously connecting said second r0- ta'table shaft to said member rotatable and movable on said first mentioned rotatable shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

STEPHEN A. ELL JET. 

